Should your children know their IQ scores?
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 15:01 PM

There are a few reasons parents should know their children's IQ scores. If you think your children are gifted, confirming a high IQ at an early age may help you develop strategies for managing their behavior or place them in gifted school programs that will be able to keep them engaged and academically challenged. But while parents may find the information provided for them by a kids IQ test useful, not everyone believes the children themselves should know their test results. Read on for more about whether children should know their IQ scores:

The issue with labeling
Mensa often makes the news when it accepts a new highly intelligent member under the age of 18. These "young Mensans" are impressive and inspirational to be sure, but will all of them benefit from knowing just how intelligent they are? Some say that an IQ score can act as a label for young children, creating high expectations that they may feel a lot of pressure to live up to. In fact, some parents go so far as to avoid using the word "gifted" around their intelligent children to protect them from the stress and anxiety that may come with a high IQ score. 

"The overemphasis on how brilliant they are often leaves them with a pressured existence trying to living (sic) up to their potential," Sylvia Rimm, author and child psychologist told ABC News. 

But that's not the only fear about telling gifted children their intelligence. Some parents also worry it will make them feel isolated or even that bragging about the results at school could put other students off. 

Every child is different
On the other hand, there are tons of children who know their IQ score and are proud of themselves for it. For some, it's not about expectations so much as already having achieved a great accomplishment. What's more, learning about their giftedness could even potentially be a boost of confidence for children who already feel a little different than their peers and aren't sure why. Recently, an 11-year-old boy named Owen Dunn was accepted into Mensa with an IQ score of 162. Owen says he was "shocked but happy" when he learned his score, according to the Mirror. 

Clearly, every child will handle the news differently, so there's no completely right answer when it comes to telling children their IQ scores. If you have gifted children, consider this: Many psychologists recommend using less specific language, such as "above average intelligence" or "scored high," rather than providing specifics. This could provide enough information to increase confidence without adding the pressure of living up to high expectations.